BOWEL PREPARATION BEFORE COLONOSCOPY - CHOOSING THE BEST LAVAGE REGIMEN

A review of the relevant English-language literature on bowel cleansin g before colonoscopy yielded results of randomized trials comparing a variety of regimens, including polyethylene glycol (PEG)-electrolyte l avage, 3-day clear liquid diet with laxatives or prokinetics, and oral sodium phosphate, as well as these regimens combined with agents such as metoclopramide, cisapride, and senna. Balancing the importance of such factors as cleansing effectiveness, safety, ease of completion, s ide effects, patient tolerance, and cost, the authors recommend four m ethods: (1) PEG-electrolyte solution (eg, CoLyte, GoLYTELY, NuLytely) in combination with senna (eg, X-Prep), (2) PEG-electrolyte solution a lone (either single dose or split dose), (3) oral sodium phosphate (Fl eets Phosphosoda) given in split dose, and (4) oral magnesium citrate in combination with rectal pulsed irrigation.